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Red Sox vs. Phillies Lineups: David Ortiz, Frankli Morales return as Sox seek series split

The Red Sox will get David Ortiz back after one day, and Franklin Morales back after many months as they seek a series split against the Phillies

By Ben Buchanan
Jared Wickerham

The Red Sox will have David Ortiz back in the lineup and Franklin Morales back on the mound Thursday night as they try to salvage a series split against the Phillies.

Boston Red Sox (32-22)

  1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
  2. Daniel Nava, RF
  3. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
  4. David Ortiz, 1B
  5. Mike Carp, LF
  6. Stephen Drew, SS
  7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
  8. Jose Iglesias, 3B
  9. Franklin Morales, P

Philadelphia Phillies (26-27)

  1. Ben Revere, CF
  2. Cesar Hernandez, 2B
  3. Jimmy Rollins, SS
  4. Delmon Young, RF
  5. Domonic Brown, LF
  6. Kevin Frandsen, 1B
  7. Erik Kratz, C
  8. Freddy Galvis, 3B
  9. Jonathan Pettibone, P

The Red Sox certainly could have used Ortiz in the lineup last night, when they so often were just in need of the one big hit. To get him, though, they're giving up Mike Napoli, who did reach base safely twice last night. It's hardly ideal, but when is anything involving National League play ever?

While David Ortiz has been gone for just one game, Franklin Morales is making his return after the better part of a year. Unfortunately, he'll make his first start back in a park which is designed to punish his fly ball tendencies. If he can strike batters out like he did when he was first starting in 2012, that will go a long way towards getting him through this outing. If not, it's up to the baseball gods.

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